Alert your favorite Miami-Dade County non-profit: Applications for Inspire305’s grants are now open. The initiative will award two non-profits – who are innovating for good – two grants: one for $25,000 and one for $10,000.

Back for a second year, Inspire305 powered by United Way of Miami-Dade is accepting applications from local, emerging, and innovative non-profits focused on inspiring change in education, financial stability, or health.

Last year’s winners were Code/Art, an organization that inspires girls to code through art lessons and Mind&Melody, a group that uses music to enrich the lives of older adults, some who have neurological impairments like dementia.

Once all the applications are submitted (deadline = March 29), Inspire305 and United Way volunteers will vet and select the finalists. After the finalists are announced, the public will vote online for their favorite organization. It’s like American Idol, but with the power to impact your local community.

During a panel for Inspire305’s 2019 launch, Juha Mikkola, co-founder of Wyncode, emphasized the importance of education in our community.

“If we want to be a place where there is less inequality, where everybody can be successful, and have this equal opportunity of what is really the American Dream, you need to give them those building blocks,” he said.

Which non-profits inspire you to change Miami’s future? Encourage them to apply for an Inspire305 grant today.

PRODUCED BY THE NEW TROPIC CREATIVE STUDIO WITH INSPIRE305

Getting ahead of the gridlock. Two major construction projects on I-395 and the MacArthur Causeway have Miami Beach leaders considering alternatives for traveling on and off the island. Some of the solutions include a water taxi system, an express bus that would ride on the expressway’s shoulder lane, and eliminating tolls on the nearby Venetian Causeway. (Miami Herald)

A strong statement. Members of the Circle of Brotherhood organization are more than a week into a hunger strike. They want to reduce  gun violence in Miami’s communities of color. The nine men striking are living in a Liberty City campsite and said they don’t have an end date for their demonstration. (The Miami Times)

Watch out for wildlife. After clearing the legal hurdles to move Ultra Music Festival from Downtown to Virginia Key, the fest’s organizers are being criticized by Miami Waterkeeper. The environmental nonprofit said Ultra’s organizers haven’t done enough to prevent harm to nearby wildlife and endangered species. (Miami New Times)

Scoping out the surplus. The University of Miami has built a tool that lets anyone look at Miami-Dade County’s vacant or underdeveloped land– and there’s a lot of it. Typically, viewing this information is reserved for real estate developers and urban planners. But now you too can see where half a billion square feet of available land is across the county. (Miami Herald)

END OF AN “ERA”

Last Friday the Miami Dolphins traded away starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill after seven seasons of literally less-than-average play. His record as a starter was 42 wins and 46 losses.

But in more optimistic sports news, it looks like the Heat could end up making the NBA playoffs!

Keep looking for those silver linings, Miami.

– The New Tropic